Forgive me for being skeptical, but I don't think Carey will be striking the pose this December.

It's not that I don't think he's qualified. Carey rushed for a school-record 1,929 yards last year and was less than 100 yards of becoming only the 15th player to eclipse 2,000 yards on the ground in a single season. He scored 24 touchdowns -- 23 rushing -- and averaged 8.4 yards in 36 receptions. He's a highlight waiting to happen, the perfect kingpin for Rich Rodriguez's spread option.

If you think that has no bearing on his Heisman chances, consider this: Only 11 Pac-12/10/8 players have won the Heisman, and seven of them went to USC; none from Washington or Washington State; one from Oregon State, the Bay Area and Colorado (then in the Big 8); one from UCLA.

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None from the state of Arizona.

Blame it on regional bias or a lack of appreciation for the conference. The cards are stacked against Pac-12 teams not named USC.

(The last non-USC Heisman winner from a school that was in the Pac-12/10/8 at the time he won it? Stanford quarterback Jim Plunkett, 1970)

Each put up incredible numbers while leading their teams to undefeated or one-loss regular seasons. Each finished no higher than third in the Heisman voting. James even led the nation in rushing like Carey did in 2012.

See what I'm getting at?

Considering this season's returning superstars -- to name a few: Johnny Manziel, Teddy Bridgewater, Tajh Boyd, Marqise Lee, A.J. McCarron, Jadeveon Clowney, Braxton Miller -- and the schools they play for, it's going to take nothing less than a Barry Sanders-like season for Carey to win the Heisman, not to mention a near-perfect 2013 campaign for Arizona.

I like Carey as a Heisman candidate. I just don't like his chances of winning.

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